[Post Infinity War piece. Any Endgame spoilers must be tagged and minor in comments]

[juststeverogers]

It starts out like a joke of questionable taste. Captain America, Black Widow, Rocket Raccoon, and Thor God of Thunder walk into the Plaza.

What that it were a joking matter. All of them are pale, beaten, and filthy. None of them says much to anyone commenting to them while they wander past people. Natasha's eyes are wide and panicked, her head turning every which way as if she could count and see all of the people passing them by. Her blonde hair is matted with blood and it hangs in clumps with ever jerky turn of her head. Steve's walking slower than Natasha, his beard and hair unkempt mess. Every step drags. His mouth hangs slightly open and moves every now and again like he might have something to say before he looks down at his feet and keeps going. Thor brings up the rear with Rocket sitting in a daze on his right shoulder, silent with a thousand yard stare that's as empty as the rest of his expression. Most of his left arm is missing, replaced by a very ramshackle prosthetic that isn't quite proportionally right for his size. In its metal skeletal fingers he carries an axe that's easily as large as Natasha is. Every now and then there is a sniffle from Rocket before he paws at his eyes and shakes his head.

Wherever these Avengers have been for the last few weeks, they've clearly been busy.

And it doesn't take much guessing to assume they've Lost.

They wander aimlessly. Eventually Rocket hops down and stops them outside a fountain. Somewhere with seating and clean water so they can tend to their injuries if they'd like. It's going to take more than anyone has to do much yet though. But they all sit. Stare. The question hangs between them all unspoken because there are no answers yet to give.

How can they possibly come back from this?

Whatever this is to them.


[This post is meant to bring several MCU muses in the comm up to Post Infinity War status. This post is OPEN TO ALL, not just Marvel characters. This is NOT meant to spoil End Game in any way. Any comments that may even IMPLY Endgame spoilers due to association with post Infinity War MUST BE TAGGED at subject level and you must talk to your OOC partner before posting them. The standard 3 weeks rule is still in effect regarding Endgame.]

Comments

[pirateangelbaby]

She may not say it, but Thor hears it anyway, for what else is this if not defeat? Thor has never lost, not this badly, not when the lives of trillions hung in the balance. Not when his own drive for vengeance led him to make the worst mistake he has ever made, the consequences so grave that he can't bear the knowledge of what he's done.

Over and over, the memory strikes him at every thought. You should have aimed for the head.

Snap.

It's so devastating that he can't think past it, mired in the echo and desperately wishing he'd done something, anything else. That he had noticed the gauntlet was complete, or that he had not stopped to savor what he'd thought was his victory, and instead done just as Thanos had said he should.

The clinking of the zipper does draw his attention, however, and he stares blankly as he tries to figure out what she's doing. His real hand trembles as he reaches over to pull the duffle open for her before it returns to gripping the axe.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She sighs softly, and gently tries to nudge him again with the side of her muzzle. Words just didn't hardly seem to cut it sometimes.

She blinks and her eyebrows go up, "oh.. ahem thank you." She murmurs softly, and polite. She tries to gently nudge at the fingers in a friendly comforting manner before the more human side of her brain has a chance to catch and stop the action. "That's ahem new." She murmurs nodding at the impressive weapon. She always had a thing for Armour and blades. More swords and the like..but..It..ah seemed to fit him. Though she wondered what happened to Mjolnir. As she recalls the stories she's read etc. Thor's Hammer, giant bane, Potent multi faceted symbol..usualy of the Male variety, but there was fertility and wedding ones tied up in it too in most traditions.

To build or destroy the double sided nature of a hammer she supposed..and very fitting for what she knew of him.

Ahem, she ponders and mulls this over, half to keep her mind busy as she pulls out a soft red and black plaid blanket and gently carefully tries to get semi on her hind legs to try and drape it over his shoulders.

[pirateangelbaby]

With Thor's shoulders bowed as if under an immense weight, she should have little trouble getting the blanket on him. His eye, however, is on the axe resting across his knees, its gleaming head almost as large as his own torso, the handle long and gnarled as if a wild branch had grown specifically for this purpose. The edge of the blade gleams wetly purple and smells of alien blood.

"Stormbreaker," Thor says, his voice quiet and a little broken. "I made it to kill him. I failed."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She blinks,impressed and half curious. Danng, that ah sure was something alright. She gives a small low whistle. She then tentatively sniffs in it's general direction again, mindful to stay well away from the blade and the blood. "Beast or Being?" She asks softly and simply. As she does her best to make sure it's on him comfortably. Her ear twitches as she listens for his pulse. Trying to check vitals etc. without being too invasive.

She hums softly, "That's..ah good name." she murmurs approvingly and nods. Only Legendary Things got names like that.

Her right eye twitches a little. "If yer going after him..I imagine he deserves it or worse?" She half states half asks. After all Thor did not seem senseless or cruel but a just fellow. She'd gotten a feeling of a 'great wrongness' happening earlier. Her fur was still a mite bit up on end.

[pirateangelbaby]

"A Titan." Which is not entirely an answer to her question, by itself. "He killed half my people. And then half the universe." Every word is laced with regret and horrible shame, the blame for not stopping the Mad Titan crushing down on him with every breath.

He could have done it. But he didn't.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She blinks and her head does a double take.." Erm..like Prometheus?" she asks softly hoping to clarify..Though Ichor was golden by all accounts. Though the Titans came before the Olympians..It stood to reason they might have some similarities. Though..a Titan would be the sort to lead a, She swallows thick a lump rasieing in her throat and tears welling in her eyes. Massacre, Her mouth hung open for several moments in shock.

She then opens her paws/fore legs and instinctively tries to hug him, Her wolf side wishing to encircle him protectively.. Even if he was much larger then her. She knew what it was like to lose people and those close to you. Thinking back to the Ogre Wars. She snuffles softly, despite herself.

[pirateangelbaby]

"No. Not like him at all." Thor is too shellshocked to consider whether or not that is a blessing, or a curse. He supposes it doesn't matter either way. It's done.

Even traumatized gods are not immune to small animal comforts. His real hand comes up to touch her fur as if by itself, and though it does little to lift his spirits, it helps - a little - to not be alone.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She hums and nods, "Ah I see..Good then." She mutters darkly, her fur going a mite on end and bristles along her spine. She did not like the sound of that one at all. She approves of the Siccing then..just she didn't want Thor going after that Bloody Creep to put it mildly again without back up.

She closes her eyes softly and leans into the touch, the tip of her tail wagging just a smidgen. Yes this, this was her purpose or leastwise one of them. She had a friend who trained therapy animals and she tries to recall the things she told her about such.